When Maddie was born in October 2012 via caesarean section at Frankston Hospital she was 3.4kg and aside from having mild jaundice, she seemed to be thriving. Her parents, Stephanie and Nathan, were a little overwhelmed with their first born but excited to welcome her into the world.

Two days later, Maddie was still jaundice and doctors discovered she had developed an infection. More tests were done to investigate her condition and she was taken to the Special Care Nursery. The tests found that Maddie had a heart murmur and just hours later she was taken to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), at a time when Stephanie and Nathan thought they would be preparing to take their new baby girl home.

When Maddie arrived at the RCH she was taken to Butterfly (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) where she underwent further tests. Her heart murmur was thankfully nothing that required treatment but incidentally a benign tumour the size of a golf ball was discovered on Maddie’s right kidney. The condition known as congenital mesoblastic nephroma is usually found before birth or in the first few months of life by ultrasound.

“When we were told about the tumour it was really scary, but we knew that the doctors and nurses were doing everything they could to help Maddie. If it wasn’t for them I don’t know what we would have done, they were all amazing,” said Stephanie.

The following day, at just eight days old, Maddie underwent emergency surgery to have her right kidney removed, ensuring the entire tumour was taken.

Director of the RCH Department of Nephrology, Dr Amanda Walker said that Maddie’s condition was rare but thankfully the prognosis was positive. “Maddie was fortunate that the type of tumour she had was able to be removed,” said Dr Walker.

“We found it really hard to leave her at night but we were lucky to be close by at Ronald McDonald House. The night after her surgery the nurse called to say she had stopped breathing and they inserted a breathing tube, that was the scariest part,” said Stephanie.

Maddie spent three weeks on the Butterfly Ward after her surgery and a further two weeks back at Frankston Hospital.

“The surgery was very successful and meant that Maddie could be cured. From that point on we were pleased with Maddie’s recovery and positive about her outlook,” Dr Walker said.

Finally, a month after her birth, Stephanie and Nathan were able to take their baby girl home for the first time. “It was overwhelming to have Maddie home after six long weeks, but it was such a great feeling knowing that she was home with us and she was going to be okay,” said Stephanie.

“All the nurses, doctors and everyone at the RCH in Butterfly and the Ronald McDonald House were so amazing! Without them, my daughter wouldn’t be where she is today.

“Maddie is now one-year-old and is catching up on her milestones. After everything she’s been through now we only need to see our paediatrician every three months, and come to the RCH for check-ups, she’s doing so well,” she said.